New UK banknotes featuring King Charles III raise over €1 million at auction

British pound sterling banknotes with a face value of £78,430 (just over €90,000) have been sold for over 11 times that amount, generating a total of £914,127 (over €1 million) at auction.

The reason for the banknotes’ value is that they are among the very first to be printed with King Charles III’s face. Although the very first set – carrying serial numbers ending in 000001 – had been presented to the King himself in April, the banknotes recently sold at auction are the next-best thing for collectors.

One £10 note with the serial number HB01 000002 was bought for £17,000. Meanwhile, a sheet of 40 connected £50 notes, with a face value of £2,000, was sold for £26,000.

There were hundreds of £5, £10 and £50 notes featuring King Charles II up for sale in the series of auctions by Spink in London, with the sum raised to be donated to 10 charities chosen by the Bank of England. These include the World Wildlife Foundation, The Childhood Trust, and the Samaritans.

Sarah John, the Bank’s chief cashier whose signature graces the notes, expressed her excitement, calling it "remarkable" that such a large sum was raised.

e notes - said she was "thrilled" that such such a "remarkable" amount was raised.